Video & Transcript Research : 'language certification'

Page 205 of 500
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Health Committee Jun 3rd, 2026

Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • Wellness and Recovery Center who would excel in peer support roles but are unable to obtain state certification
  • through those different core competencies in that 80-hour training period, then taking a test for certification
  • digital literacy and documentation are a part of those core competencies that are trained in that certification
  • much for bringing up some of the things that they do have to be trained on in order to get this certification
  • So these are all things that someone must be trained in for 80 hours prior to receiving certification
Keywords: 987, senate, all
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • So if you want to step forward and get your certificates. Okay.
  • So if you want to step forward and get your certificates. Okay.
  • So if you want to step forward and get your certificates. Okay.
  • So if you want to step forward and get your certificates. Okay.
  • So if you want to step forward and get your certificates. Okay.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/25

Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • It can be language items and various other things. Thank you very much.”
  • It can be language items and various other things. Thank you very much.”
  • It can be language items and various other things. Thank you very much.
  • It can be language items and various other things.
  • According to the language in chapter 41 According to the language in chapter 41 on<01:45:24.159> the
Keywords: 1183, house
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • grandmother in rural Texas, who's voted in every election since LBJ, now has to track down a birth certificate
  • Replacing passports and birth certificates takes time, money, and resources that many Texans simply don't
  • tax by being forced to pay for a passport if they don't have a certified copy. ...of their birth certificate
  • passport to exercise their right to vote if the name on their ID doesn't match the name on their birth certificate
  • A copy of a birth certificate may not seem like a lot to many of you, but for a low-income Texan, that
Summary: The committee meeting involved various discussions pertaining to legislative initiatives and public policy concerns. Members engaged in debates around significant topics, highlighting their diverse perspectives. The atmosphere was lively with members presenting arguments for and against certain measures. Testimonies from the public were also a key feature, shedding light on community sentiments related to proposed bills.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Ethics and Elections Feb 23rd, 2026

Ethics and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • We came up with common definitions, so we're all speaking the same language.
  • Can you tell us a little bit about PERC's role with respect to union-certification elections and things
  • Can you tell us a little bit about Perk's role with respect to union certification elections and things
Summary: The committee met to consider a large slate of appointments, with the main discussion centered on the confirmation of Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Harris testified about her background in state service and outlined agency priorities including Medicaid financial accountability, transparency, managed care oversight, behavioral health redesign, rural health access, workforce recruitment, and use of technology and AI. Senators questioned her extensively about the Hope Florida/Medicaid settlement controversy, opioid settlement-funded advertising campaigns tied to marijuana prevention and the 2024 Amendment 3 election, public records compliance, abortion reporting and enforcement under the Heartbeat Protection Act, managed care denials, value-based purchasing, and Medicaid funding pressures. After debate, the committee voted to recommend her confirmation, with Senator Polsky voting no. The committee then considered Anna Ortega and Robert Payne for the Florida Public Service Commission. Ortega, a current PSC commissioner and former staff advisor, discussed utility regulation, data center load issues, ratepayer protections, transparency in PSC decisions, and lessons from other states. Payne, a former legislator and longtime utility co-op employee, emphasized his technical background and the need to balance utility returns with consumer affordability. Both nominees were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes and recommended favorably to the full Senate. Next, the committee heard from Jeffrey Aaron for reappointment to the Public Employees Relations Commission. Aaron described PERC’s role in public-sector labor disputes and said his work had been upheld in appellate courts without reversal. Senators questioned him about his law firm’s state contracts, his role as chairman of Attorney General James Uthmeier’s PAC, and his connection to the Hope Florida Foundation matter; he declined to discuss the pending investigation. Public testimony included opposition from Florida Voice for the Unborn. The committee nevertheless recommended his confirmation, with several no votes. Finally, the committee approved the remaining appointees on tabs 5 through 46 in a single vote, postponing Dr. John Littell and DCF Secretary Hatch, and then adjourned.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/12/2026 - Senate Floor Session - Opening Day Ceremony

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's 72 languages that get spoken within 10 square miles of our place.
  • undergraduate at the inaugural ASU Hispanic Convocation, earning her bachelor's in political science and certificate
  • Campus certification. Judiciary and Elections.
Keywords: 1182, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 03/17/25

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • The language of the bill is directed toward that.
  • That is u that is the purpose.<00:01:17.360> The<00:01:17.680> language<00:01:18.159>
  • The language of the bill is purpose.
  • The language of the bill is directed<00:01:20.080> to<00:01:20.400> that<00:01:21.040><
  • On 1.14, then the court then we have deleted language or attorney general must deposit the money in the
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, June 23, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • These awards help support students studying languages and cultures critical to national security and
  • <00:17:29.120> and support students studying languages and support students studying languages
  • last Congress to include this language last Congress to include this language in<04:20:26.399>
  • ,<04:47:45.760> relevant professional certifications, relevant professional certifications
  • ,<04:54:10.560> for MBA, or a FINRA certification, for MBA, or a FINRA certification, for
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Senate in Session Apr 29th, 2025

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Fourth, it revises the reimbursement language.
  • included on the CAPE Industry Certification funding list.
  • Leader Berman, the House language did not have the texting while driving language that we put But Senator
  • Doesn't that language basically suggest that you can expand the UDB permissively by the language that
  • Do you know who drafted that language? Drafted this language?
Bills: SJR59, SCR30, SCR46, SB31, SB127, SB324, SB401, SB407, SB467, SB482, SB506, SB529, SB584, SB619, SB636, SB646, SB647, SB659, SB715, SB732, SB735, SB771, SB784, SB800, SB801, SB816, SB1013, SB1026, SB1049, SB1055, SB1065, SB1137, SB1169, SB1181, SB1383, SB1395, SB1410, SB1433, SB1524, SB1531, SB1568, SB1640, SB1666, SB1681, SB1718, SB1754, SB1757, SB1972, SB1980, SB2004, SB2007, SB2041, SB2046, SB2050, SB2075, SB2076, SB2154, SB2173, SB2206, SB2225, SB2253, SB2268, SB2306, SB2308, SB2314, SB2322, SB2330, SB2351, SB2366, SB2371, SB2392, SB2398, SB2476, SB2533, SB2540, SB2544, SB2589, SB2610, SB2623, SB2660, SB2662, SB2693, SB2707, SB2717, SB2722, SB2742, SB2753, SB2779, SB2807, SB2843, SB2844, SB2858, SB2877, SB2880, SB2885, SB2920, SB2938, SB2986, HJR4, HCR35, SJR3, SJR18, SB5, SB260, SB1786, SB914, SB963, SB1197, SB1415, SB1437, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SJR84, SJR59, SCR12, SCR39, SCR46, SCR48, SCR19, SCR30, SCR3, SB2023, SB1433, SB2322, SB2877, SB407, SB1718, SB1395, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB1073, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB1502, SB507, SB1026, SB1434, SB1376, SB1585, SB1772, SB2016, SB1163, SB619, SB1122, SB732, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB261, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB529, SB209, SB2429, SB1999, SB511, SB2309, SB510, SB2253, SB584, SB1085, SB2314, SB2046, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB1524, SB1137, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB517, SB1200, SB1410, SB1845, SB1863, SB2681, SB2200, SB2199, SB1757, SB2050, SB2458, SB2201, SB1055, SB2660, SB2662, SB1065, SB801, SB2533, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB647, SB1721, SB2268, SB2366, SB1013, SB2797, SB2371, SB2383, SB646, SB1169, SB1754, SB2779, SB2004, SB2119, SB2448, SB1777, SB1283, SB2392, SB2076, SB2786, SB2876, SB2284, SB2225, SB1540, SB2920, SB2929, SB1972, SB2540, SB2742, SB2595, SB2217, SB715, SB2330, SB1383, SB500, SB1640, SB2001, SB2080, SB2722, SB506, SB2514, SB2623, SB2753, SB2398, SB1241, SB2927, SB2173, SB2538, SB898, SB467, SB1449, SB2529, SB1531, SB2846, SB2476, SB986, SB1181, SB2075, SB2154, SB2864, SB31, SB2880, SB1359, SB2386, SB771, SB2844, SB2550, SB1351, SB1423, SB1931, SB2245, SB2589, SB2707, SB2807, SB2351, SB410, SB659, SB816, SB2776, SB2693, SB2580, SB1980, SB1886, SB1234, SB739, SB482, SB456, SB127, SB1666, SB2843, SB2801, SB800, SB2055, SB784, SB2986, SB735, SB1012, SB324, SB2926, SB2938, SB2007, SB2138, SB1242, SB2615, SB1049, SB2310, SB1224, SB2972, SB1568, SB2841, SB2885, SB3016, SB2858, SB2610, SB2139, SB1856, SB2035, SB2308, SB2306, SB2041, SB1528, SB1681, SB1141, SB2401, SB2530, SB2375, SB547, SB1266, SB1373, SB1467, SB2069, SB2269, SB2480, SB2544, SB672, SB904, SB2695, SB2891, SB2422, SB2543, SB1854, SB317, SB2539, SB2532, SB2925, SB1250, SB2082, SB2203, SB457, SB2357, HJR4, HB135, HB 1109, HCR35, HCR64, SB2721, SB243, SB1285, SB2568, SB1959, SB1442, SB1454, SB2520, SB2541, SB1708, SB1237, SB1844, SB1586, SB1, SB260, SB31, SB467, SB482, SB647, SB732, SB816, SB1055, SB1137, SB1169, SB2004, SB2253, SB2268, SB2314, SB2351, SB2371, SB2623, SB2722, SB2779, SB2920, HJR4, SB407, SB1395, SB1433, SB1718, SB2322, SB2877, SB619, SB646, SB1026, SB2742, SB2880, SR443, SR449, SR456, SR460, SR465, SCR46, SB260, SB3062, HJR8, HJR31, HJR72, HJR99, HJR133, HB29, HB33, HB50, HB 107, HB 116, HB 125, HB140, HB141, HB155, HB171, HB227, HB255, HB363, HB368, HB491, HB609, HB630, HB745, HB767, HB913, HB917, HB 1135, HB 1188, HB 1238, HB 1242, HB 1261, HB1318, HB1404, HB1495, HB1507, HB1606, HB1708, HB1748, HB1851, HB1922, HB2002, HB2003, HB2198, HB2355, HB2358, HB2415, HB2457, HB2495, HB2546, HB2637, HB2763, HB2765, HB2798, HB2818, HB3228, HB3307, HB4116, HCR29, SB1410, SB3062, HJR8, HJR31, HJR72, HJR99, HJR133, HB29, HB33, HB50, HB 107, HB 116, HB 125, HB140, HB141, HB155, HB171, HB227, HB255, HB363, HB368, HB491, HB609, HB630, HB745, HB767, HB913, HB917, HB 1135, HB 1188, HB 1238, HB 1242, HB 1261, HB1318, HB1404, HB1495, HB1507, HB1606, HB1708, HB1748, HB1851, HB1922, HB2002, HB2003, HB2198, HB2355, HB2358, HB2415, HB2457, HB2495, HB2546, HB2637, HB2763, HB2765, HB2798, HB2818, HB3228, HB3307, HB4116, HCR29, SB1410
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Joint Appropriations Committee, June 23, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Reiman: the language in which it's 'whichever is less' was enacted in 2000 and was either 2007 or 2009
  • That language was not added in 2022. It has been there for a...
  • Reiman is right that that language, you know, 50% or less, That language, you know, 50% or less of the
  • So anyways, I'll give you that language to look at, too, if you want that. >> Right.
  • So, um, I guess just in simple language, are premiums going to go up? >> Mr.
Keywords: 916, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Health Committee Jul 15th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • The author received technical assistance language from the administration on this bill last week.
  • The Chamber's members are evaluating the new language...
  • It goes to the Quality Center for Quality and Improvement, the licensing and certification funds, so
  • some of the challenges that our hospitals are wrangling with when we're looking at the specific language
  • —are already regulated by the Business and Professions Code and have language in that section related
Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several bills focused on health care access, oversight, and affordability. The first major item was SB 306 by Senator Becker, a prior authorization reform bill. Becker and supporters, including the California Medical Association and California Hospital Association, argued that prior authorization delays care, adds administrative burden, and can lead to serious patient harm. The bill was substantially amended late in the process to have DMHC and CDI identify services and drugs to exempt from prior authorization based on utilization data, with safeguards for fraud, waste, abuse, and patient safety. Health plans and insurers opposed the measure as written, saying prior authorization remains an important utilization-management tool and raising concerns about the 90% threshold, drug inclusion, and how modifications are counted. The committee also heard SB 35 by Senator Umberg, which would let cities or counties inspect unlicensed sober living homes if DHCS does not act promptly on complaints. Supporters said the bill would address weak enforcement and protect residents, while one behavioral health directors group opposed it unless amended. Members generally supported the measure, citing problems with unlicensed facilities and the need for local enforcement backup. The committee then heard SB 62, which would codify California’s updated essential health benefits benchmark if approved by the federal government. Senator Wiener said the package would add hearing aids, durable medical equipment, and infertility treatment including IVF, acknowledging that premiums could rise but arguing the benefits were worth it. Health Access California and other advocates supported the bill, while the California Family Council opposed it. The committee also took up SB 596 by Senator Menjivar, which would tighten the rules for hospitals claiming an on-call list as a defense to nurse staffing ratio penalties. Supporters, including nurses and SEIU, said hospitals have used vague or ineffective on-call practices to avoid accountability and that the bill would improve enforcement and patient safety. Hospital groups opposed it, arguing that staffing is highly dynamic, that hospitals need flexibility to manage acuity and emergencies, and that the bill could increase costs and interfere with collective bargaining arrangements. Finally, the committee heard SB 40 by Senator Wiener, the Insulin Affordability Act, which would cap insulin copays at $35 for a 30-day supply and restrict step therapy unless a plan covers at least one insulin in each drug type. Supporters, including physicians, diabetes advocates, nurses, students, and patient groups, said insulin is life-saving and too often unaffordable, forcing patients to ration or choose between medication and basic needs. There was no formal opposition testimony, though one member questioned why insulin remains so expensive. The committee also began discussion of SB 363, but the transcript cuts off before that bill’s full presentation or any action on the measures. No votes are recorded in the portion provided, and several bills were noted as consent items earlier in the hearing.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII Feb 25th, 2025

Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm looking for similar language for our agency.
  • Um, you didn't say it regulate the practice of medicine, which I believe is actually the, the language
  • Language so that you would have had it for your, for your reference.
  • Language licensing exam for social workers that we see as a crucial step in advancing the workforce needs
  • Other state licensing exams offer a Spanish language option.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2025-02-13 (12:00PM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So the plain language of 4A seems to include what you just said.
  • It also teaches these kids emergency management, gives them certification so they have a job.
  • It also teaches these kids emergency management, gives them certifications.
  • And under this language, local law enforcement will be deputized as 287(g) task force under the 287(g
  • Because we're talking about things like we need to teach five different languages.
Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for the Parkland shooting victims, quorum call, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Rules and Ethics Committee special order report for February 13, 2025 was adopted, setting the day’s special order calendar and debate times. The chamber then took up immigration-related special order items, beginning with Senate Memorial 6C, which urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements. Members debated federal immigration policy and state cooperation with DHS, and the memorial passed 85-27. The House next considered Senate Bill 4C, an immigration bill creating new state offenses related to unlawful entry and reentry into Florida and requiring a mandatory death sentence for an unauthorized alien convicted of a capital felony. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, including Supremacy Clause, due process, and Eighth Amendment concerns, and several speakers argued it would create separate classes of people and invite litigation. Multiple amendments were offered to narrow or expand exemptions, including protections for Venezuelans on TPS, certain Haitian TPS and humanitarian parole recipients, undocumented people brought to Florida as children working in critical professions, and a proposal to delay action pending court rulings; all of those amendments were rejected. The bill passed 85-29. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 2C, which would create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement led by the Governor and Cabinet, establish a local law enforcement immigration grant program and advisory council, repeal the undocumented-student fee waiver, and appropriate more than $300 million for immigration enforcement. The sponsor described it as supporting cooperation with federal immigration agencies and ending the in-state tuition incentive for undocumented students. Early questioning focused on the impact on “dreamers” and whether the bill would effectively raise their tuition costs; the sponsor said it removed the incentive of in-state tuition but did not bar attendance. The transcript cuts off during that exchange, before final action on SB 2C is shown.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, one of which is this certificates of rents paid.
  • And I think um if I recall that the certificates<00:18:44.720> for<00:18:44.880> rent<00
  • for rent paid were one of certificates for rent paid were one of the<00:18:46.559> things<00:
  • But that request for certificates<00:18:58.320> for<00:18:58.559> rent<00:18:58.799>
  • Um, one of which is this certificates of rents paid.
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee heard House File 2499, authored by Representative Lee, which would expand Minnesota’s renters’ credit to more closely match the homestead credit for homeowners. Lee explained that the bill would raise the income cutoff from about $75,389 to $143,140 and increase the maximum credit to $3,500, with the goal of addressing what she described as an inequity between renters and homeowners who both pay property taxes. She cited revenue estimates showing the change could make about 80,000 additional renters eligible, while acknowledging the bill would be costly to enact this year. Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project testified in support, describing how the renters’ credit works, including the assumption that 17% of rent goes toward property taxes. She highlighted 2022 data showing most recipients had low incomes, many were seniors or people with disabilities, and participation was higher in greater Minnesota in some respects. Michael Dah of Homeline also supported the bill, saying renters face rising housing costs and use the credit for basic needs such as groceries, school supplies, medical care, and car repairs. Members discussed whether expanding the credit would simply benefit landlords or encourage rent increases. Representative Anderson opposed the bill on the grounds that policy should incentivize homeownership, while Representative Huitt argued the credit could help renters build savings and move toward homeownership if they choose. Representative Lee responded that the housing market is broken and that the credit is one tool to help renters in a broader housing continuum. The discussion also covered outreach and administration of the credit, including the recent move to file it with income taxes, electronic certificates of rent paid, and funding for tax-preparation assistance and outreach through VITA sites and community organizations. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Aug 11th, 2025

New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • For instance, we're conforming language to the rules of the statute.
  • There are ways in which borrowers are disadvantaged by that language, and it duplicates our language.
  • Internally, do you mandate that this language is in the policy?
  • So how can I ensure that this language will end up in the policy?
  • Because are we ensuring that this language does indeed end up in the policy?
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

March 6, 2025 - 01:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • And case law has interpreted what that language, that confusing language, means.
  • And case law has interpreted what that language, that confusing language, means.
  • And the new language really encompasses those lines, right?
  • Would you be willing to take language? Are you willing to consider taking language similar to this?
  • I believe this is the right language.
Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee heard and advanced a series of bills on inmate medical billing, court-order transmission, animal abandonment during disasters, first responder peer support, firearm purchase waiting periods, capital felony aggravators, domestic violence protections, boating safety, restitution for leaving the scene of a crash, xylazine trafficking, and offenses against law enforcement officers. Testimony was generally supportive across the agenda, with some opposition or caution raised on the xylazine bill, the boating safety bill, and parts of the law-enforcement-officer bill. Several measures were presented as responses to specific tragedies, including the Martin County jail medical billing bill, the Baker Act transmission bill, Trooper’s Law for restrained dogs, the Jason Rayner Act, and Lucy’s Law. HB 407 would cap certain emergency medical charges for Martin County jail inmates at 110% of Medicare rates, mirroring Department of Corrections practice; it passed 15-0. HB 513 would require faster electronic transmission of certain court orders, including Baker Act orders, to law enforcement within six hours; it passed 15-0. HB 205, Trooper’s Law, creates a third-degree felony for abandoning a restrained dog during a natural disaster; it passed 15-0. HB 421, as amended, expands peer support for first responders to certain support personnel involved in crime scene work or evidence handling; it passed 16-0. PCS for HB 383 would let law enforcement, correctional officers, correctional probation officers, and active military service members bypass the three-day handgun waiting period without a concealed carry permit; it passed 18-0. HB 693 adds an aggravating factor in capital cases when the victim was gathered with others for a school, religious, or public government meeting; it passed 17-1 after opposition testimony from Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. PCS for HB 19 and HB 41, the Haven Act, would expand domestic and dating violence protections, including a feasibility study for a web-based 911 alert system and confidentiality/public-records protections for victims; both passed 18-0. PCS for HB 289, Lucy’s Law, would align boating penalties with driving offenses and expand boating safety card requirements; it passed 18-0 despite concerns from one witness that the bill should go further. HB 479 would allow courts to order restitution in leaving-the-scene property-damage cases; an amendment changing mandatory to discretionary restitution was adopted, and the bill passed 18-0. PCS for HB 57 would regulate xylazine, add trafficking penalties, and include veterinary-use exceptions; it passed 17-0 after one witness opposed mandatory minimums. HB 175, the Jason Rayner Act, clarifies that officers are protected when acting within the scope of their duties and adds manslaughter of a law enforcement officer to offenses requiring life imprisonment; it passed 17-0 after debate over self-defense and unlawful police conduct.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/09/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • SB 1681, medical marijuana registration certificates. Rules.
  • SB 1693, school district superintendent certification requirements.
  • SB 1799, commerce authority tax incentive certification.
  • SB 1799, commerce authority tax incentive certification.
  • SB 1824, blind and compensatory skills teaching certificates.
Keywords: 1182, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Delivery of Government Efficiency Mar 5th, 2025

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • That particular case where you didn't get the records, do you have access to that certification to be
  • Do you get to see that certification at all? Yes, we receive a copy of the certification.
  • We've self-developed our own kind of large language model so that we can have that.
  • different languages?
  • Language in different contracts, a few of them, just a few examples, please.
Keywords: 1184, house, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Apr 2nd, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • I mean, what would, what language would you put it in?
  • The language that you Put it in. I, I don't speak that language. I don't know what it means.
  • So I'm happy to work on that language if anybody.
  • specifies the language that has to be in the warning.
  • The actual warning that's the language, whether it's in English or another language.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

PSM Public Hearing 01-27-2025

Public Safety and Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • and upon request of inmates, to assist inmates in obtaining civil identification cards, birth certificates
  • Senator Fukunaga then said the bill language seemed tailored to avoid interfering with emergencies or
  • The speaker said the language is intended to address those kinds of situations.
  • <00:18:16.159> on etc etc it seems that the language on etc etc it seems that the language
  • They suggested further crafting of the language together with the department.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs heard several bills on January 27, 2025. SB 24, relating to identification, would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to help inmates obtain civil ID cards and other vital documents for reentry. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from DCR, the Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission, DHS, the Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center, health and youth advocates, and others, with comments emphasizing that reentry should begin on day one and that lack of identification is a major barrier to housing and employment. A senator asked about the low number of IDs issued in 2022 and DCR said it already has a satellite ID card machine at Hālawa and plans to procure more for other facilities. The committee recommended passage of SB 24 as is. SB 474, relating to psychologists, would require DCR clinical psychologists to obtain licensure within 10 years of employment and would sunset in 2035. DCR strongly supported the bill, citing a severe staffing shortage, low exam passage rates, and many vacant positions, while the Hawaiʻi Psychological Association expressed concerns and one testifier argued psychologists serving incarcerated people should be licensed before employment. Committee members questioned whether the 10-year period was too long and discussed alternative solutions such as pay incentives and shortage differentials. The committee ultimately recommended passage with amendments, shortening the licensure period to 5 years, moving the sunset to July 1, 2030, and making other technical changes. SB 353, relating to emergency management, would clarify emergency authority, bar suspension of public records or vital statistics requests during emergencies, define “severe warning,” and allow the legislature or city councils to terminate a state of emergency. DHS and HMA opposed the bill, arguing it could limit executive flexibility and cut off access to the major disaster fund, while supporters included public-interest and good-government groups. The committee discussed whether legislative termination authority could interfere with ongoing emergency response and recovery, with the bill’s sponsor explaining it was aimed more at situations where emergency conditions have ended, such as prolonged COVID-era proclamations. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including a delayed effective date and committee report notes referencing DHS request data and HMA’s opposition. The committee also heard SB 259, relating to recordkeeping for secondhand dealers and pawn brokers, and SB 37, relating to recordings of law enforcement activities. SB 259 was set for amendment and deferred decision-making to January 29, 2025, so the committee could seek input from HPD. SB 37 drew support from the Legal Clinic and other advocates, with a clarifying question about civil enforcement actions, and the committee recommended passage with amendments and a delayed effective date. The meeting concluded with the committee adopting its recommendations and adjourning.